Southern California -- this just in

LAPD awaits drug tests on 'Sons of Anarchy' actor Johnny Lewis

Authorities are awaiting toxicology results on "Sons of Anarchy" actor Johnny Lewis
as they continue to investigate allegations that he killed his landlady last week before falling to his death.

It will likely take several more weeks before the Los Angeles County Coroner's office gets the drug tests back and determines a cause of death.

Court records show Lewis struggled with drugs and mental issues.

He was arrested three times this year in connection with drugs and mental
health issues, according to court records and those who knew him. The
problems
culminated Wednesday in a bizarre altercation in Los Feliz, where
police say the actor fatally bludgeoned his 81-year-old landlady and
attacked a painter and a neighbor before falling to his death.

A
probation report tied to one of his cases spoke of Lewis' struggles.
"There are significant issues which should be addressed," the report
states. "Obviously, defendant's behavior is out of control and needs
counseling afforded by a professional."

Los
Angeles detectives are still trying to piece together what
happened at the sprawling hillside home of 81-year-old Catherine Davis.
Neighbors described Davis as a kindhearted friend who rented out parts
of her two-story home to actors and others in Hollywood. Davis
advertised her home as the "Writer's Villa," "set up for creative
people. It is located in the Los Feliz Hills, in the same range of
foothills as the famous Hollywood sign."

Lewis had rented a room
once before from Davis, though officials are not sure how long he had
lived there. What is clear is that Lewis' latest arrival came after
several arrests and jail stints.

Lewis had been released from Los
Angeles County Jail five days before the slaying, following a series
of criminal cases that dated to January. Sources familiar with the
cases said there were several attempts by family and authorities to
help Lewis.

The first arrest came Jan.
3, when Lewis allegedly broke into a Northridge town home and allegedly beat two men with
an empty Perrier bottle. Lewis had once lived at the complex.

One
of the victims, who asked not to be identified, said he found Lewis in
an upstairs room that morning. Lewis, who was wearing only pajama
bottoms, told one of the men that he'd seen an intruder and was checking
to see if everything was OK.

When the man and his brother-in-law
tried to get Lewis to leave, he attacked, biting them and beating their
heads with the bottle, court records show.

"My brother-in-law hit him in the head many times," the man told The Times. "He didn't even blink."

Lewis
was arrested and later released on bail. He was again taken into
custody Feb. 10, accused of punching a man in the face at a Santa Monica
yogurt shop.

The third arrest would come eight days later, when
he allegedly tried to break into a Santa Monica home, a crime that was apparently thwarted when a woman saw him and began screaming.

Lewis was released on
bail in March but failed to appear in court and was arrested on a bench
warrant later that month. He was in custody until May 23, when Judge
Mark E. Windham ordered that Lewis spend 30 days in an outpatient program for mental health issues and substance abuse.

He went to Ridgeview Ranch in Altadena, where he completed a month of treatment.

By
Aug. 17, judges had ruled in both the assault and burglary cases that
Lewis had fulfilled his sentences and he was put on probation. What
happened next is not entirely clear, but Lewis eventually found himself
back in county jail. He was released Sept. 21 for reasons that are also
not clear.

Five days later he was at the Spanish-style home in Los Feliz, where he rented a room from Davis.

The
owner of the home next to Davis' said Lewis approached him Wednesday
morning and introduced himself as "John," a new neighbor. Lewis left but
returned about 15 minutes later and hopped a front-yard fence and began
attacking a painter working at the neighbor's home.

The neighbor
said his wife started screaming for help. The neighbor
joined the fray, but he said Lewis was not fazed by the blows he took.
It was like "hitting him with a fly swatter," added the neighbor, who
asked to remain anonymous because he was concerned about his safety.

The
three managed to shake Lewis and rushed into the house, throwing their
bodies against the door as Lewis struggled to get inside. When police
arrived, he was dead in Davis' driveway after apparently falling from a
roof or balcony.